Described as "classic UK rock delivered with whiskey vocals", the band have been summarised as possessing a sound akin to the genres of alternative rock and "British traditional rock". Stereophonics' debut album, Word Gets Around, was released in August 1997 and charted at number six in the UK, aided by the singles "Local Boy in the Photograph", "More Life in a Tramps Vest" and "A Thousand Trees". The band reached mainstream success with the release of Performance and Cocktails (and its promotional singles "The Bartender and the Thief", "Just Looking" and "Pick a Part That's New") in 1999 and have achieved a total of ten top-ten singles as well as one number one: "Dakota" (2005). Having sold around 10 million copies worldwide by 2016, Stereophonics are one of the most successful Welsh rock acts. Upon their release of Pull the Pin, they achieved five consecutive UK number one albums.
The band have also been praised for their live performances, which have landed them headlining slots at many of the UK and Ireland's most high-profile music festivals, including Reading and Leeds in 2000, Glastonbury in 2002, V Festival in 2002, the Isle of Wight in 2004 and 2009, Oxegen in 2010, Tramlines Festival and TRNSMT in 2018, and Latitude in 2019. The band is part of the Cardiff music scene.
Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stereophonics
Studio albums
Word Gets Around (1997)
Performance and Cocktails (1999)
Just Enough Education to Perform (2001)
You Gotta Go There to Come Back (2003)
Language. Sex. Violence. Other? (2005)
Pull the Pin (2007)
Keep Calm and Carry On (2009)
Graffiti on the Train (2013)
Keep the Village Alive (2015)
Scream Above the Sounds (2017)
Kind (2019)
Oochya! (2022)
Rooftop
Stereophonics Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Trying to clear my mind
I only came up to look
But now there's such a crowd
I don't feel that bad
Can't help but laugh
And they cry out
I feel my body blowing
From every side to side
My mind can't help but knowing...
What it feels like to fly
I don't feel that bad
Can't help but laugh
But they cry out
They say jump and I say how high?
They say jump and I say I might
And they cry out
And they cry out
Say jump and I say I might
Say jump and I say I'll try
Say jump and I say I'll say goodbye
Say jump and I say how high
High, high, fly, fly
I'm just standing on the edge of
Something I should try to hide from
I don't know much but I know something
I need to try and find me a way
Try I always come out fighting
I don't feel I should deny me
Can't help knowing what is down there
Feels like I should fly now for them
I'm fascinated, mis-educated, it's reincarnation
Of my imagination
I'm far away, from here today
It's where I'll stay if I get my way
It's lying awake, that makes me sane
But it makes me sick but I can't change again
The song “Rooftop” by the Welsh rock band Stereophonics explores the theme of taking risks and facing fears. The lyrics describe the singer standing on a rooftop, trying to clear his mind, but he ends up getting caught up in a crowd of people. As they urge him to jump, he feels his body blowing from side to side, almost as if he is ready to fly. This imagery suggests how the character is torn between staying safe and taking a leap of faith, and the line “I’m just standing on the edge of something I should try to hide from,” highlights his uncertainty and hesitation.
Despite this, the singer is not purely anxious. He notes that he doesn’t feel that bad and even laughs as people urge him to jump. This suggests that he is not entirely averse to risk-taking, even as his mind acknowledges the potential danger. He also notes that he may jump and is fascinated by the idea of flying. However, he ultimately seems unsure if he wants to take that step, saying “Say jump and I say I might” and “Say jump and I say how high?”
Overall, “Rooftop” captures the complexity of decision-making, especially when it comes to taking risks. The singer is fascinated by the idea of flying, but also scared of the potential consequences of jumping. The lyrics, therefore, offer a relatable and emotional depiction of the tough choices in life that we all must face at some point.
Line by Line Meaning
Standing on a rooftop
I'm physically on top of a building
Trying to clear my mind
I'm up here to gain mental clarity
I only came up to look
I came up here with no specific purpose
But now there's such a crowd
People are gathering below due to my presence
I don't feel that bad
I'm not feeling terrible
Can't help but laugh
I find the situation amusing
And they cry out
The crowd yells at me
They say jump and I say how high?
The crowd is urging me to jump and I'm asking how high they want me to jump
I feel my body blowing
The wind is affecting my body
From every side to side
The wind is hitting me from all directions
My mind can't help but knowing...
I can't help but think that I know what it feels like to fly
What it feels like to fly
I imagine what it would feel like to fly while being up so high
They say jump and I say how high?
The crowd is still urging me to jump and I still want to know how high
They say jump and I say I might
I'm thinking about whether or not I'll actually jump
And they cry out
The crowd continues to yell
Say jump and I say I might
The crowd is trying to persuade me to jump and I'm still thinking about it
Say jump and I say I'll try
I'm willing to try but still uncertain
Say jump and I say I'll say goodbye
If I do decide to jump, that will be the final goodbye
Say jump and I say how high
The crowd keeps insisting that I jump and I still want to know how high
I'm just standing on the edge of
I'm on the edge of the roof
Something I should try to hide from
There's something down there that I should avoid
I don't know much but I know something
I may not be sure about a lot of things, but I know I need to find a way out
I need to try and find me a way
I need to try and find a way out of my current situation
Try I always come out fighting
I always keep trying, even in a difficult circumstance
I don't feel I should deny me
I don't think I should hold myself back
Can't help knowing what is down there
I know there's something down there but I can't help it
Feels like I should fly now for them
It seems like I have to jump now for the crowd's entertainment
I'm fascinated, mis-educated
I'm intrigued yet misinformed
It's reincarnation of my imagination
I'm visualizing something that's constantly changing
I'm far away, from here today
I'm distant from my current surroundings
It's where I'll stay if I get my way
If I have a say in the matter, I'll stay away from everything and everyone
It's lying awake, that makes me sane
Being awake helps me mentally
But it makes me sick but I can't change again
Being awake also has negative effects but I can't go back to my previous mindset
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Kelly Jones, Stuart Cable, Richard Mark Jones
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind